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HELLBOY SLEEPING & DEAD #1 (Of 2) |
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Writer:
Mike Mignola |
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Artist:
Scott Hampton |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher: Dark Horse
Comics
Shipped On:
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MSRP:
$3.50 each
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DARK HORSE'S SYNOPSIS:
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While chasing a giant bat through the forest,
Hellboy meets an old man with insider knowledge of the coming vampire
apocalypse. For the first time, Mike Mignola teams up with artist Scott Hampton
(Batman, The Books of Magic) for this gothic tale. First collaboration between
Mike Mignola and Scott Hampton. Classic vampire horror! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Despite my enjoyment of both of the feature films
based on Mike Mignola’s creation, I’ve never managed to find myself swept away
in the lore surrounding the source material. I’ve read Hellboy comics before;
it’s not that I haven’t tried. It’s that my budget only allows for so many
titles before my pockets start to moan and groan like so many starving orphans.
Anyway, when given the chance to catch up with the big, red, monster-fighter, I
jumped at the chance, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Vampires, they’re everywhere these days. As it turns out, while on assignment to
protect some guy/find some vampire, Hellboy comes across an old man who shares
with him some vampire-lore from Europe. It would appear that the European
vampires are a bit more subtle than their American counterparts, choosing to
operate in complete secrecy in hopes of outlasting human-beings’ fascination
with them. This is an interesting strategy, and one that, if employed correctly,
would seemingly work! That doesn’t so much answer my question: If they’re all
supposed to remain in hiding, why was Hellboy called out to investigate a
vampire-disturbance at all? Doesn’t seem like SOMEONE is able to keep a secret,
does it?
After a bit of the ol’ back-and-forth with an elderly man charged with caring
for his turned-vampire family and their dark master, Hellboy is caught in a
trap. This all builds up to the cliffhanger ending that we all should see
coming, and despite that it’s still quite effective! I’m just as interested in
HOW HB is going to get himself out of this jam, although I’m sure being a
monster-fighting demon is going to come into play somehow…I’m sure of it!
Anyway, as far as my first foray back into the world of HB and the B.P.R.D. is
concerned, I love it, and I look forward to the conclusion in the following
issue.
Scott Hampton is a newcomer to world of Hellboy, but his style is more than a
match for the brooding, moody atmosphere that this story so desperately needs to
be effective. His art, a combination of pencils and paint, I think, is very
capable of retaining that distinct MIGNOLA feel upon which Hellboy’s look has
been solidified. As such, a more drastic departure would do little to ENHANCE
the eeriness of the story, whereas here Hampton is capable of establishing
EVERYTHING the author is trying to say through visuals. This issue could have
easily found itself the victim of some calamitous accident, printed without word
balloons or text of any sort, and I have NO DOUBT that Hampton’s work would be
able to convey EXACTLY what Mignola wanted us to know. That’s the mark of a
talented artist, and a perfect fit for this character! |
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ECHOES #1 Of (5) |
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Writer:
Joshua Hale Fialkov |
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Artist:
Rahsan Ekedal |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher: Image
Comics
Shipped On:
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MSRP:
$2.99 each
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IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
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The First Shocking Suspense Series from Minotaur!
Brian Cohn is a diagnosed schizophrenic leading a simple, uncomplicated life in
Monroeville, Pennsylvania. He's expecting his first child with his wife. When he
goes to visit his estranged Alzheimer's afflicted father on his deathbed, the
dying old man confesses to being a serial killer. Now Brian is faced with
discovering a horrifying new side to his father and left wondering if we ever
really escape familial legacies. From acclaimed author Joshua Hale Fialkov
(Tumor, Pilot Season: Alibi) and rising artist Rahsan Ekedal (Creepy) a
disturbing story of murder and mystery wrapped in questions of sanity. |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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A good psychological thriller is not an easy story
to pull off in any medium; “Echoes” by Fialkov and Ekedal manages to transcend
the pitfalls of comic book storytelling and deliver a twisted and effective
mind-f*ck of a yarn. Death-bed declarations, murder and mutilation, mental
instability…it’s ALL in here, and despite some rather typical ‘tells’, all
stories deal with clichés in one way or another, the promise of the adventure to
come is enticing enough to bring me back for more.
Brian’s dad lay dying in a hospital when he begins to spout some sort of ominous
confession about ‘all those dead girls.’ This works Brian, our main character,
up into a fit something fierce; he takes it upon himself to start investigating
the story his father tells him with his final breaths. Luckily, Pops included a
last-known-address, and so into the creepy, old, rickety, deserted house in
which all our nightmares dwell, Brian goes exploring. Oh, at this point I should
mention that Brian isn’t exactly the poster child for Mental Health. He has some
sort of anxiety, or panic attacks, or something that makes him all sorts of
antsy, which doesn’t make for the most fearless, or dependable of main
characters.
That’s the beauty of the book, and its main drawback. Stories about main
characters that we can’t count on to be honest, whether because they’re bad guys
or sick, or whatever, come down to the very end, the final page. If by story’s
end everything plays out and makes sense, or at least some semblance of it, then
fine, all’s well and good. IF by the end of the story I’ve been handed
chicken-$#!t while being told it’s chicken salad, well, I tend to feel jilted.
It’s one of those roll-the-dice books. Five issues, to find out if everything is
bull$#!t, or not. My money’s on Brian being the killer, if there even IS one.
Rahsan Edekal’s pencils remind me of those first six or so issues of “The
Walking Dead”. Tony Moore was cutting his teeth on the gritty illustrations of
zombies and carnage, and here Ekedal makes the everyday world his playland
bringing madness to the mundane, and making it look SO good. The black-and-white
paint over pencils look does the moodiness a great deal of justice, but at first
glance it may rattle a few of the more traditionalists’ feathers. The panel
layout on each page keeps the book flowing in a way that’s visually exciting,
always important, and with a story such as this it’s vital to its success. |
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GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #18 |
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Writer:
Peter Calloway |
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Artist:
Jeremy Haun |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher: DC
Comics
Shipped On:
122910
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MSRP:
$2.99 each
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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How far will Zatanna go for the people she loves?
How far will Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn go for Catwoman when they find out that
she's been lying to them? And how long can Talia al Ghul hold off an enraged
Ivy? Find out here! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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“Gotham City Sirens” has the unfortunate position,
in my opinion, of being the Yin to “Birds of Prey”’s Yang. It’s the OTHER SIDE
of the coin; the dark side of Gotham City’s GRRRL-Power sub-culture. In addition
to the colorful cast of allies Batman parades around town with, there are just
as many female foils to Batman’s war on crime. Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn,
Catwoman, and Talia Al Ghul are just a few of the bevy of femme fatales to stalk
the streets in a pair of stiletto heels. As the stars of this title, and “Bad
Girl’s Club: Gotham City”, the quartet are in the midst of some pretty heated
in-fighting co-starring Zatanna as the ultimate trump card!
Selina ‘Catwoman’ Kyle walks a very fine line in her role as on-again-off-again
love interest for on-again-off-again Batman, Bruce Wayne. She’s a thief, a
criminal, one of the many that plague the city of Gotham, the city that Wayne,
as Batman, has sworn to protect. BUT, that skin-tight body suit is really
flattering, and she rolls her ‘R’s in the most adorable way ever! How can the
Caped Crusader resist her charm? As such, they’ve spent many a night together
sweating and breathing heavily, both in and out of costume (RIM SHOT!).
The primary conflict of this issue is the Siren’s need to pry the Batman’s
secret identity out of Selina. Zatanna knows that Selina is in possession of
this information, and while she doesn’t want to cross any lines she does want to
make sure her friend’s secret remains undisclosed, especially to his enemies.
She’s manipulated people’s memories before, most notably Batman’s during the
“Identity Crisis”-era of the Justice League series, but now she seems a bit
wishy-washy on what to do. She talks to her Ghost-Dad, Za-something, and he
basically tells her everything she already knows, touching scene in that it made
me want to touch my finger to the back of my throat and force myself to vomit.
Hello, After-School Special, much?
Jeremy Haun manages to salvage as much as he can by injecting a fair amount of
excitement into what amounts to a 22-page cat-fight (RIM SHOT!). There’s some
great shots of Catwoman and Batman in flashbacks, and Ivy seems especially
bad-ass (!) when she’s forced to put up or shut up. I’ve enjoyed Haun’s work for
a while, and while it’s always nice to see him dabble in the Batman universe, I
can’t imagine that THIS is the best project they could get him to do. I’ll admit
it does appear as though the next issue will have a great deal MORE action and
LESS exposition, and if he can make this snooze-fest feel as fast-paced as it
did I really anticipate flipping through the next issue at the comic store.
We’ll see if it there’s more to it than there appears to be, or if it’s bound
for the chopping block. |
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BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1 |
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Writer/Artist:
David Finch |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher: DC
Comics
Shipped On:
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MSRP:
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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Comics superstar David Finch takes full creative
control (both writing and illustrating!) on this brand-new Batman monthly
series! Joined by the best of the best - Scott Williams - on inks, this new
series is sure to be on everyone's must-read pile! Delving into the more
supernatural and esoteric areas of Gotham City, the 6-part storyline explores
the horrific murder of one of Bruce Wayne's childhood friends...and the terrible
ramifications the brutal crime has on Batman's life! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Whether you were one of the many who couldn’t wait
to see David Finch rock some Batman interiors, or one of the few who wanted to
see the artist take a stab at writing his own book, at long last, the wait is
finally over! Aside from the incredibly unimaginative logo for what would be the
twelfth or thirteenth Bat-book, this series is probably what you would expect
from a writer/artist with much more experience in the ‘artist’ department than
‘writer’. With any Batman story, previous to Grant Morrison’s ground-breaking
run on the character, there were certain beats that one would be expected to
hit; David Finch doesn’t just hit those specific beats, but full on head butts
them into submission. The real question is: Is that going to be good enough to
carry this series side by side with the previously established Bat-titles?
The idea of introducing a new character to the previously unexplored past of
Bruce Wayne isn’t an entirely ‘new’ idea. Really, this book isn’t exactly
bursting at the seams with ‘new ideas’, but it does manage to celebrate the
traditional Batman style of storytelling to a ‘T’. There’s one scene in
particular, Batman taking on a Venom-juiced Killer Croc, which is SO uninspired
I wasn’t expecting much more from the remainder of the issue aside from the
typical paint-by-numbers writing that you’d expect from “Batman: Confidential”
and not a new ‘Flagship’ title. For a debut issue amongst a glut of rejuvenated
Bat-books, with a $3.99 price tag no less, there’s very little substance here,
very little broken-ground, and a whole lot of aping of what’s come before.
Dawn Golden is the aforementioned ‘new’ character being written into Bruce
Wayne’s past. She’s the first girl to every capture the heart of the one-day
playboy while he was little more than a boy at play. She’s missing, apparently,
and this drives Bruce to hit the streets hard, tracking down any and every lead
he comes across. The conflict with Croc occurs early, leaving time for Bruce to
sulk around the Batcave for a few pages before it’s back out into the night,
setting up the cliffhanger ending that can’t possibly be as bad as it looks for
Batman, or this is going to be one of the shortest on-going series ever.
Finch’s pencils, in my opinion, have NEVER looked better than they do in this
issue. He’s been hit or miss with me for a while over in his last few months at
Marvel. His cover work for DC has been nothing short of amazing, but I wasn’t
sure how that was going to translate to interior work once he was able to get
started. I’m pleased to say that Finch was probably born to illustrate the Caped
Crusader, and while I’m not sure letting him pen his own stories was the most
brilliant of decisions, I’m glad that he’s bringing his A-game to the fledgling
title. Scott Williams’ inks go a long way toward providing Finch with a smooth,
clean style, except when we find ourselves in Gotham’s back alleys amongst the
scum and the garbage, that’s where Finch’s trademark grit really comes into
play. Williams, and colorist Alex Sinclair, let the artist do what he does best,
but they each bring something to the table that clearly enhances the emotive
qualities of his work.
I’m in the Dick Grayson-as-Batman camp, and as such I have little use for a new
Bruce Wayne-as-Batman title, especially considering how bad-ass Morrison’s
“Batman Inc.” has proven to be. I’m glad that they’ve got David Finch doing
something that he’s obviously passionate about, but I’m not sure how long for
the world this book is. I can’t help but imagine that this title will be
shipping late by its fifth or sixth issue; maybe editorial will bring on a
co-writer to lighten Finch’s load, but if the book doesn’t find a distinct voice
amongst the cacophony of bat-stuff out there, well, it might just find itself on
the chopping block. I don’t think even Batman can withstand a volatile economy,
a mediocre story, and a four-dollar cover price. Sorry, Bruce. |
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CHAOS WAR X-MEN #1 (OF 2) |
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Writer:
Louise Simonson and Chris Claremont |
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Artist:
Doug Braithwaite |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel
Comics
Shipped On:
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MSRP:
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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X-Men greats Chris Claremont and Louise Simonson
join artist extraordinaire Doug Braithwaite in a special 2-issue CHAOS WAR
tie-in. As the Marvel Universe is destroyed pantheon by pantheon by the dark
god, Chaos King, the rift between the underworld and Earth is violently ripped
apart. How can a handful of deceased X-Men make a difference in Chaos King's war
against life? Get ready for the startling answer when the most unique team of
mutants ever bands together to save the Earth from eternal darkness. |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘Dead X-Men
returning from the grave’ story, “Necrosha”, I can’t help but think that
everyone, nay – EVERYONE, was anticipating the adventures of another group of
‘returned from the grave’ X-folk. I know I wasn’t, but I’m little more than one
man, and if I’ve learned anything, nay – ANYTHING, from comics books, at all,
through all my years of reading, it’s that one man can’t truly make a
difference. Nonetheless here we are, one month before the conclusion to Fred Van
Lente and Greg Pak’s “Chaos War”, and Marvel is slipping in another
off-shoot/spin-off series under the radar, one written by the authors behind the
“Forever” line of off-shoot/spin-off X-Men titles.
Louise Simonson and Chris Claremont are both legends in their own right, but
also, perhaps, creators whose hey-days are without a doubt behind them. I’ve
been a Claremont-detractor for years now, and considering the only place to find
Simonson is over in “X-Factor Forever”, just one in a line of titles that I have
absolutely no use for, I’m a little less than experienced in her style of
story-telling these days. I do know that both are celebrated scribes,
particularly within the confines of the ‘X’-corner of the Mighty Marvel U, I’m
just curious as to where all that experience actually comes into play in this
rather dull and (dare I say) lifeless comic book.
If you’re already a fan of the X-Men then you’re probably really into the scenes
where they stand around and posit on all things emotionally divisive amongst
themselves. If that’s the case, and let’s face it, if you’re a fan of the X-Men
you’re a few tiny steps away from the emotional roller-coaster that is the day
time Soaps; but I digress. IF the emotionally charged story of yesteryear’s
X-bullpen gets you all stiff in the pants (metaphorically speaking, of course),
you’re in luck, as the first half-or-so of this title is just what you’re
looking for! The recently-returned X-folk, stand around and moan and complain
until there’s something for them to hit: birds. That’s right, the reason all
those birds are falling from the sky is because the X-Men won’t stop beating up
flocks of ****ing birds.
There’s a bit more to it, but not much. Some ravens appear about midway through
the issue, minions of Chaos King, and the X-Men get into a fight with them. That
would be bad enough, but then the X-Men start to lose, to BIRDS. Sigh. SO yeah,
the dead X-Men fight a bunch of birds and almost lose, but then they make an
escape and one of their own is transformed into a BIRD-PERSON, a sign that
things don’t bode well for the protagonists or those of us unlucky enough to
purchase issue number two. Doug Braithwaite’s pencils look marvelous, and go a
long way toward redeeming this rather wet-fart of a comic, but unfortunately I
need a lot more than purty-pictures to keep me from wiping my shorts free of
this stain. Anyone got any Tide? |
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SUPERMAN BATMAN #79 |
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Writer:
Chris Roberson |
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Artist:
Jesus Merino |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
DC
Comics
Shipped On:
122210
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MSRP:
$2.99 each
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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Get ready to go back to the 853rd century as
SUPERMAN/BATMAN visits the world of DC ONE MILLION! What dangerous foe threatens
to destroy both the 853rd and 21st centuries? Find out here in the first part of
a 2-part story by Chris Roberson (I, ZOMBIE) and Jesus Merino (JUSTICE SOCIETY
OF AMERICA)! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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The Return of Superman and Batman from DC ONE
MILLION! That’s what the cover said, and that’s honestly what attracted me to
this book which I read once in a great while. I was pretty young when the whole
DC ONE MILLION thing was going on, and still had my X-colored glasses on, so
I’ll say the whole thing went over my head. Not that big of a deal, because
nothing in comics is ever REALLY forgotten about. Ideas are shelved with the
purpose of being rediscovered, rejuvenated, and ultimately reintroduced to the
general population. Whether or not that’s always a good idea remains to be seen,
as hindsight is 20/20.
Originally the brainchild of Grant Morrison (Thanks, Wikipedia!), Chris Roberson
feels as if there’s still some life left in this bag of misfit toys, and for a
special few-part story he’s dusted them all off and strewn them about the
metaphorical living room floor that is the comic-shop shelf. This is so much
more than a trip down memory lane, as Roberson isn’t so much interested in
simply expanding upon the established mythos, but rather incorporating the
future with the past, or is it the past and the past and the present…or is it
the present and the past looking back on the future? This time-travel stuff can
really get confusing.
What’s not confusing is that Jesus Merino is one of the most under-appreciated
talents working today. He’s one-half of the reason that I care as much as I do
for the Justice Society, as his work with Bill Willingham really solidified that
team in my subconscious as some of the best classic super-hero stuff I’ve seen
recently. He’s back with this new-school rendition of an oft-forgotten era in
DC’s legacy, and as everything from the 90’s seems to be kicking and screaming
its way back onto the scene, Merino ramps up the energy in his pencils
delivering a visual thrill ride on par with that of Jim Lee or the brothers
Kubert. No, seriously. The guy is a class act, with enough detail packed into
every panel that there’s never a shortage of things to look at.
Say what you want about dated, 90’s throwback concepts being adapted for
modern-day money making, or how successful comic companies have been
regurgitating the same stories over, and over, and over again. I, for one,
appreciate the attempt at recapturing lightning in the same bottle as before, if
for no other reason than I might have missed out on the first go-round. Comics
exist in a bubble where time has no meaning, and even though the wacky hi-jinks
of those capable of punching the sun or out-running a speeding bullet have been
told a million times, a million ways, there’s always a million new kids who have
no idea who these characters are, or why they should love them. |
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TANK GIRL BAD WIND RISING #1 (OF 4) |
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Writer:
Alan Martin |
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Artist:
Rufus Dayglo |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Titan
Shipped On:
122210
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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TITAN'S SYNOPSIS:
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A holiday. A hold-up. A murder. A car chase. A mound
of dog poo. A very large vodka. A fistfight. A kick in the groin. An earthquake.
A mutant surfer. A lorry heist. A thousand pairs of panties. A tiny moped. And a
gang of killer kangaroo's after Tank Girl's scalp. Don't miss this twisted
action adventure! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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For a book that purports partial nudity on its
cover, “Tank Girl: Bad Wind Rising” is a decidedly tame once you open it up. I
didn’t know what I was in for. I’d not read a ‘Tank-Girl’ comic, well, ever. I’d
seen the movie, at least as much as I could sit through; suffice it to say it
never sold me on the property in any of its variations. SO anyway, I crack it
open, laugh at some of the obviously-British humor, and by story’s end I’m
wondering: “What was the purpose of the whole thing?”
If you’re not familiar with the world of Tank Girl, stop right here. There’s
nothing I can do for you, as the book did nothing for me, and as I am one of you
I can only hope to convey my confusion to rest of the world. I got the central
idea, but the whole of it was lost on me because there was little in the way of
‘clearing anything up’. New-reader friendly? HA! Here’s what I got: Tank Girl, a
bunch of chicks AND a kangaroo-guy go to the beach and act like pricks.
Kangaroo-guy tries to rob a post-office (not for stamps, which would have been
stupid). Kangaroo-guy and Tank Girl have a dust up that ends with the Earth
beneath them breaking open, a heavy-handed metaphor if ever I’ve seen one. Can
you say ‘schism’, much?
Anyway, all that aside, there is some quirky visual stuff going on here that I
could get into. If I was presented with a more engaging reason to stare at the
book other than trying to find the semi-interesting $#!t going on (sometimes) in
the borders, I’d be more tempted to check it out. I’m not sold on the world in
which this story takes place; I don’t feel as if the writer really cared to
embrace any NEW readership. Maybe I just didn’t get the humour (get it?!). As a
Monty Python/Fawlty Towers/blah, blah, blah-other-street-cred-series-name-drop
fan, I’ve been exposed to all sorts of dry British wit…I just don’t believe that
this series is in possession of anything other than vulgarities and obscenity
(two things I don’t have any issue with in and of itself, when accompanied by
clever and/or entertaining STORY). Maybe I’m just some sort of simple-minded
Yank, but I’m gonna pass on future “Tank Girl” material. |
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JOE HILLS THE CAPE ONE-SHOT |
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Writer:
Jason Ciaramella, based on the short story “The Cape” by Joe Hill |
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Artist:
Zach Howard |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
IDW
Comics
Shipped On:
122210
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
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IDW'S SYNOPSIS:
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Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom takes a month break
in December, but in its place is another Joe Hill extravaganza! This special
one-shot takes Hill's acclaimed short story from his best-selling short-story
collection 20th Century Ghosts and adapts it to comics! The Cape will walk you
along the fence of childhood innocence, and then throw you face first into a
brick wall. Explore your dark side in this tale by Hill and Jason Ciaramella,
with art and two covers by Zach Howard. |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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I love a book that takes its readers down a
comfortable and fairly recognizable path only to then, suddenly, jerk the rug
out from underneath them, laughing as your perspective on things shift, and you
find yourself without a leg to stand on. “The Cape” does what all GREAT stories
manage to do, it intrigues its readers, goading participants into rooting for
someone we’ve never met, and then it all comes back to haunt us, or more
directly, stab us square in the back.
It’s not easy to pick up on the vibe of “The Cape” until you’ve read the book
for the first time, and after that everything becomes all too clear. After
re-reading the story I wanted to kick myself for not picking up on all the hints
and clues that were dropped along the way, trying to fill readers in on the
protagonist’s secret, subtly nudging us in one direction only to wrench us
violently in the opposite once we’re on track. It’s one of those things you
don’t see coming until it’s on top of you, and by then, of course, it’s too
late.
What the hell am I talking about you may ask…well, I can’t tell you. What I
can say is this: This is a GREAT comic; a perfect example of what it takes to
capture a new reader’s attention with a new character that I have NO
relationship whatsoever. Joe Hill’s short story, adapted by Ciaramella for the
world of comics, provides everything one would need to develop a bond with main
character, Nick, quickly and quietly, before ‘hooking’ the reader on the last
page with the most dreadful twist I’ve seen in a book in years. It’s a dastardly
trick, one that is made all the more devious because you can’t (really) see it
coming.
Zach Howard provides visual grittiness to the story that simultaneously takes
the edge off while intensify the impact of the ending. This is a dirty looking
comic, and it’s only afterward that I realized why. Upon my second read-through
I picked up on the atmosphere the writer(s) and artist were attempting to convey
a bit more easily than I did the first time out. I was shocked by how many
visual clues there actually were, signifying all too obviously the direction
this book would be headed in, but because I was swept away in the narrative I’d
failed to notice. The subterfuge paid off, and I’m becoming a bigger and bigger
fan of Joe Hill every day; I can’t wait to read more of “The Cape” in the year
to come. |
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ULTIMATE COMICS DOOM #1 (OF 4) |
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Writer:
Brian Bendis Artist:
Rapha Sandoval |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel
Comics
Shipped On:
122210
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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The enemy has revealed itself and the Ultimate
Universe has been rocked to its very core. Now, the surviving heroes must put
together the most bad ass covert ops team ever if they have any chance of
catching up to the enemy before he/she strikes again. Ultimate Doom is a story
you have never seen in a Marvel Comics, and we promise you--no hype--the
Ultimate Universe changes forever. The dynamic duo of Brian Bendis (Mighty
Avengers) and Rafa Sandoval (Avengers Initiative) bring you the concluding tale
in the Ultimate Enemy trilogy-and it'll shock you beyond belief! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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The finale of Bendis’ three-part, “Ultimate
Universe”-changing, mega-event is finally upon us! Who sent all those pink,
ugly, monster-dudes after Nick Fury? Who’s been attacking the Roxxon
Corporation, as well as select heroes around the Ultimate Marvel U? Who killed
Reed Richards?! If you’re already familiar with the previous four-issue
mini-series, “Ultimate Threat”, you may know to whom I’m referring; if you’re
NOT familiar with the previous two series, you’ll be comforted to know that they
make the reveal pretty early in this issue (the re-cap page, for one, and by
page three they cement it for you!). Reed Richards is DEAD! Long live Reed
Richards!
I love it; I have to admit that right off the bat. I’m not one of those guys
that were turned off by the mountain of dead bodies left behind in the wake of
“Ultimatum”. I don’t mind the dismantling of the Ultimate Marvel Universe, as
long as it’s done by someone with a pair of stones big enough to do the job the
way it should be done, dirty. Bendis, in this twelve-part epic, has effectively
taken a giant dump on the Fantastic Four, ‘killing’ one member, de-‘Thing’ing
the Thing, and then slapping them all in the face when their thought-lost ally
turns out to be the villain of the story. I love it!
I’m not spoiling anything for you, believe me. There’s a lot more to this book
than “Reed Richards gone wild!” Here’s a character that, in the mainstream
Marvel U, has been relegated to ‘Father-Figure’ status for so long that there
isn’t a whole lot to do with him that wouldn’t be going against the usual
character archetype. In the Ultimate Universe, however, the guy is still just a
kid, and as such he’s entitled to go through a, shall we say, fidgety period.
And even more important, in this case, than “Whodunnit?!” is ‘Why?” Why did Reed
turn on everyone he’s ever cared about? What happened?
Rapha Sandoval really gets it. His dynamic approach to the Fantastic Four has
never made its members look more powerful, Reed and Sue in particular. He hits
the emotional beats as well, especially at the end, where Ben and Johnny are
made to look as sorry and downtrodden as I have ever seen them. There are some
two-page spreads in this book that really beat the crap out of anything I’ve
seen done with the FF in a long, long time (visually speaking). I’m a fan of
their mainstream counterparts, and I always have been, but I enjoy the shaking
up of the Ultimate versions so much; I’m on Fan-Four overload!
I think the only draw-back for the story as far as I’m concerned is its MASSIVE
size. The last Ultimate-U epic with this many issues was the Warren Ellis
three-part, twelve-issue “Ultimate Galactus” storyline, and that left a
somewhat-off taste in my mouth. I know, from an editing perspective, it’s easier
to get people to choke down three four-issue series rather than one twelve-parter,
but it feels more like a marketing ploy rather than a logical progression to the
storytelling. In retrospect I don’t think I can go back and JUST read “Ultimate
Enemy” or “Ultimate Threat” and consider it a complete experience. Each of these
series has organically progressed into the next, with very little in the way of
resolution to offer readers in between, so why not package it as ONE story,
instead of three? Because then they couldn’t pop us for $3.99 an issue, whereas
in this case it’s been all too easy to. Ah, well, I’ll be back next month for
more, like I always am. |
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NORTHERN GUARD #1 |
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Writer:
Ty Templeton Artist:
David Cutler |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Moonstone
Comics
Shipped On:
121510
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MOONSTONE'S SYNOPSIS:
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Golden Age Canadian superheroes finally see
distribution outside of their homeland! Johnny Canuck, Freelance, Commander
Steele, Ghost Woman, Purple Rider, and the Red Rogue soar into action in
all-new, full-length stories set in modern times, coupled with never before seen
reprints of classic tales from the Golden Age for a punch-filled package of epic
comic adventure |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
|
If your comic needs a two-page preface to kick-start
the story, with, like, TEN font-changes, I’m irritated by page three. The story
of the Northern Guard, a collection of licensed characters, and maybe some new
ones (who knows?) is not unlike every other smattering of super-heroics (with
maybe just a little ultra-nationalism), but hey, it’s not like Canada has a
whole lot going for it in the world of comics, eh?
Marvel has “Alpha Flight” and DC has…somebody I’m sure, but there isn’t really a
CANADIAN comic book, and thankfully Moonstone Publishing, out of Calumet City,
IL, is looking to fill that gap! Watch out now! ANYWAY, the idea of an energy
pulse that magically gives a number of Canadians special abilities while
disregarding the rest of the world is just preposterous. Wouldn’t it make sense,
if they were suddenly in a position of dominance over the rest of the world,
that Canada would rise up and crush us, if for no other reason than to get back
at us for “The South Park Movie”?
Okay, so blah blah blah, super heroes with Canadian themes fight obscure Russian
bad guys and that ultimately leads to the most ineffective last-page reveal in
the history of comics. The guy that the two-page preface is dedicated to, yeah,
that’s him, HE’S the antagonist, and he can CONTROL VOLCANOES. Who in the f*ck
even knew Canada HAS VOLCANOES?!
This is a half-hearted effort with little to no hope of success. I hate it
because, upon re-reading it, I realized that I had just been duped not once, but
twice into thinking that this might have promise. I read this when it first came
out, forever and a day ago, I know, but I didn’t seem to hate it so much, until
that ending. I recently got caught up (almost) on my workload, and by reading
this once more, having completely forgotten about the let-down of the century,
was once again ‘had’ by the creators. Boo, you guys. Boo! As much as I’d like to
see local boys at Moonstone make good, I’m just not digging the constant license
chasing that they have going on. No thanks, gentlemen. |
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BLACK PANTHER MAN WITHOUT FEAR #513 |
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Writer:
David Liss Artist:
Francesco Francavilla |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel
Comics
Shipped On:
121510
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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In the wake of Shadowland, there's a new protector
of Hell's Kitchen! He has no kingdom, no vibranium, and no high-tech safety
net--just bloody knuckles and the will to prove himself in a foreign land where
the fiercest of jungle predators stalks the most dangerous urban prey! His name
is T'Challa, and in the aftermath of Shadowland, he will create a new life, a
new identity, and learn what it is to be a different kind of hero. But with
Daredevil gone, the bad guys are coming out to play, and a new nemesis--Vlad the
Impaler--plots his bloody rise to power. Be there as national best-selling
author and Edgar Award Winner David Liss and the pulp master Francesco
Fracavilla (Zorro, Green Hornet) begin a shocking new chapter for the world's
most dangerous man! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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There’s a NEW defender of Hell’s Kitchen, for better
or worse, and his name is The Black Panther! Given their recent individual
follies, T’Challa’s in “Doom War” and Matt’s in “Shadowland”, a switch of this
nature shouldn’t have come as that much of a surprise. Of all the candidates in
Marvel’s “Who will be the NEW man without fear?” campaign, inserting Black
Panther into the role just made the most sense; both heroes are intensely
independent, typically associated with their own specific locations, and similar
enough in appearance and style that the switch wouldn’t be that jarring to
readers.
Two men, both without their home, find themselves in desperate need of ‘change’;
Matt turns to T’Challa to watch over the Kitchen while Matt attempts to find
himself after the ordeal that saw him possessed by a villainous demonic entity,
and T’Challa, hoping to test himself now that he’s surrendered the abilities
granted to him by the Panther God of Wakanda, agrees to roam the streets of New
York at night taking on any who seek to victimize others. It’s a cool idea, and
it’s executed really well by David Liss and Francesco Francavilla.
After establishing himself under a false identity, an immigrant from the Congo
operating ‘Devil’s Kitchen’, a local diner, T’Challa sets about his mission of
self-discovery/bad-assin’ it up. There’s a new bad guy in town, Vlad the Impaler,
who’s the Romanian equivalent of Captain America plus some energy conversion
ability, and the Black Panther is hot on his trail. The cat-and-mouse games that
commence from there are like any action movie you’ve seen before, but the
characterization that is interspersed throughout grounds everything in a very
real way. I very much enjoyed reading T’Challa as Mr. Okonkwo, as he interacted
with the denizens of Hell’s Kitchen in an undercover sense attempting to discern
the environment and demeanor of his new home.
Francesco Francavilla is a true asset. He really establishes a down-to-Earth
look and feel to the book, bringing it all together without use of an inker or
colorist; he’s a one-man show. If you’re not a fan of the new-retro look that
Marvel has embraced most recently in its flagship title, “The Amazing
Spider-Man”, then at first glance the look of “Black Panther” is going to turn
you off. While re-reading this title I found myself even MORE in love with this
guy than I was before, finding new stuff to look at in each panel on every page.
I really appreciate the work of more mainstream artists, sure, but it’s always
nice to find a new name to add to my ‘watch-list’. |
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JOHN BYRNE NEXT MEN VOLUME 3 #1 |
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Writer/Artist:
John Byrne |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher: IDW
Comics
Shipped On:
121510
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IDW'S SYNOPSIS:
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A NEW CHAPTER begins in the lives of the survivors
of Project Next Men. New friends, new foes, and a tale that literally twists
time itself out of joint. They said it would never happen, but it has! John
Byrne has returned to his classic creation! This is where it STARTS, this is
where you want to BE! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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The name ‘John Byrne’ isn’t synonymous with simply
one title, one character, one publisher, or one of anything. The
author/illustrator has left his mark on virtually every property imaginable
during his long, illustrious career, for better or worse is really a matter of
one’s opinion. I was a kid when Byrne relaunched Superman. I was also too young
and too fascinated by the Mutant-side of the Marvel U to read his ‘FF’, or
anything else that he could be bothered to put out. I certainly wasn’t at an age
where I wanted to read indy comics of any kind, and that included Byrne’s
previous attempts at launching a “Next Men” series.
This book gave me a headache almost from page one. There’s just too much to go
over, and Byrne tries to get it all done in one issue so that he’s free to tell
the stories he wants to tell in the ones to follow, and I can understand that,
but the idea of a first issue of ANY comic book should be ‘accessibility’ and
this book is anything but accessible. First of all, there’s like three or four
phony realities we have to sift through before the final scene and even THAT I’m
not sure is actually taking place the way it’s depicted.
Aside from my problems with the sheer density of the material, there was a great
deal of other stuff that just didn’t jibe with me either. The references to sex
as ‘dancing’ were totally ignorant and childish, which only served to make me
think of these characters as nothing more than the post-pubescent stars of any
exploitation reel. I don’t get it, are they kids or are they men? And if they’re
kids, why is there so much sex and lewd behavior? Not that I don’t know kids act
like that, but to portray it in a comic and glamorize it in that way
seems…wrong.
More than that I just didn’t feel the book. If this is a passion project for
Byrne, all I have to say is “Go get em, Tiger!” because I don’t have to buy it,
and I don’t have to like it, and who knows, maybe there’s a huge internet
movement in favor of this book, but I doubt it. The art, if anything is this
book’s strong suit, and there Byrne is still more than capable of telling a
story with riveting imagery, I just wish there was more substance behind the
work. |
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DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #12 |
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Writer:
David Hine Artist:
Agustin Padilla |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
DC
Comics
Shipped On:
120810
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MSRP:
$4.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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What starts as a Batman, Inc. recruitment trip soon
turns into an international incident as The Dark Knight encounters a string of
bizarre murders in Paris, France. Featuring both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as
Batman, this extra-sized spectacular guest-stars The Question and spotlights the
debut of a new Bat-ally!
In part 1, Bruce, Dick and Renee Montoya are presented with a series of cryptic
clues, which lead them to the underground catacombs of Paris - and the most
unexpected of assassins! Continued in this month's BATMAN ANNUAL #28! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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As an avid fan of not only Batman comics but also
Parkour, the European ‘sport’ of urban free-running, I was especially excited to
hear about a Parisian ‘Batman’ who was supposed to be a traceur, or free-runner.
While Grant Morrison was set to induct the character under his umbrella in
“Batman Inc.” in only a couple months, you can imagine my surprise when I saw
the inclusion of the soon-to-be-Batman in this latest installment of “Detective
Comics Annual”.
What followed my initial surprise was the unfortunate experience of reading a
rather sub-par introduction of a new asset to the Batman universe. I’m not from
France, but I’ve watched a lot of French movies, particularly French action
films as they have a certain flair that American thrill-rides seem to lack, but
I wouldn’t have you believe that I’m an expert in French culture; nevertheless I
felt that the country in which this story is set is represented rather
dutifully. From the multi-cultural representation to the civil unrest that seems
to plague the city of Paris, I feel like Hine, while ultimately missing the
mark, managed to at least represent the setting and culture for what it is
rather than what a lot of Americans seem to believe.
Foreign leaders and representatives are being bumped off in surprisingly
dramatic, not to mention public assassinations all around Paris. This, of
course, is causing a great deal of embarrassment to the French Government, and
against their strict policies involving outsiders they’ve invited Bruce Wayne
and his Batman Inc. to try and settle the mess for them. Batman and Batman set
about deciphering a series of puzzles and tracking down whomever may be
responsible for a series of hypnotisms transforming regular people into hired
killers. This leads them into a head-on collision with Nightrunner, the
aforementioned French Bat-candidate, but is he friend or foe?!
Part of the fun of the whole Batman Inc. experience, so far, has been watching
Bruce size up suitable candidates. I can’t imagine that there are a whole lot of
people that are able to fit the desired characteristics, so when one comes
along, throwing the Dark Knight for a loop, it’s kind of neat! I enjoy the back
and forth between Batman and Batman, and no, I honestly never thought I’d write
something as redundant as that, but it works. The visual distinction between the
two makes it easy to figure out what’s going on, even though I could have done
with a more accomplished artist than Agustin Padilla, whose pencils, while
completely competent, lack any real pizzazz. In comparison, I enjoyed the work
of Lee Ferguson and Trevor McCarthy, the artists of the TWO co-features, much
more than that of the main story. Oh well. |
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27 (TWENTY SEVEN) #1 (OF 4) |
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Writer:
Charles Soule Artist:
Renzo Podesta |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Image
Comics
Shipped On:
120810
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
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Hendrix, Cobain, Joplin, Morrison. All belong to the
"27 Club," which admits only the most brilliant musicians and artists...and
kills them dead in their 27th year. Will Garland is a famous rock guitarist,
secretly unable to play for months due to a neurological disorder afflicting his
left hand. He's also 27! With mad scientists, long dead rock legends and cosmic
entities in his way, can he make it to 28? |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
|
I first read “27” when it first shipped the week of
December eighth. Yeah, I’m a little behind, what can I say? Anyway, I didn’t
like it when I first read it. I found there to be very little in the way of any
substance to the story, very little meat. I recently read the book since I can’t
review something I barely remembered, other than my particular distaste for it.
Once I read the comic I felt as though I had a better handle on the character
and what little story there actually was, but I also had a better handle as to
WHY I didn’t care for the book upon my first read-through, and why now, after my
second I still didn’t care for the book.
This book starts in one place and ends all the way off the map, and while for
the most part I appreciate a story that’s willing to take risks to be creative,
I also like a story to make some semblance of sense. Some guitarist that loses
his ability to play allows some creepy, old scientist to perform some sort of
ritual/experiment with some sort of device that’s never really explained. Cats
are killed, the creepy, old scientist is killed, and the guitarist, Will
Garland, makes it out with some sort of control panel embedded in his chest
cavity. Afterward, Will discovers that when he toggles the dials and switches in
his new chest-mounted control panel he’s capable of extraordinary feats of
creative genius, but is he going to continue to mess with the machine once ghost
begin to appear?
I can appreciate a title that likes to take a new approach as far as telling its
story, but where’s the story? WHO is Will Garland, and why should I care that he
no longer can play his guitar? HOW did he come across this creepy, old
scientist, and why in the hell is he willing to get naked in a warehouse with
him and a bunch of cats?! I’m left with a great deal of questions and NO
answers, simply MORE questions. The issue ends in such an offbeat, abrupt,
“Where the hell did that come from?” twist that I had little reaction other than
to grunt to myself: “Huh?”
Renzo Podesta brings a certain graffiti-inspired grit to the page, but along
with it comes a particularly flat, lifeless style. There’s not a whole lot to
look at in each panel, and the whole thing feels as though it lacks any density
whatsoever. I couldn’t get into the dullness of the environments and the lack of
detail in, well, anything. I can appreciate an out-there style, but I’m not sure
I can appreciate it when the story is packing such little content. There was too
little to read and too little to look at, and all for only FOUR DOLLARS…wtf?! |
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WIDOWMAKER #1 of (4) |
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Writer:
Jim McCann Artist:
David Lopez |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel
Comics
Shipped On:
120810
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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Who is hunting Marvel's super spies? Espionage
agents around the world are being assassinated, their covers blown, and
governments' intelligence & security capabilities devastated! The person behind
it: an all-new Ronin! The next two super-spies targeted for death: Black Widow
and Mockingbird! The wildcard determined to unmask the killer: Hawkeye! Let the
game begin as Marvel's spy community collides with it's superhuman agents! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
|
Alright, alright; I’ll be the first to admit that I
jumped on the “Hawkeye & Mockingbird” bandwagon a little late, and while the
characters’ series may have gone the way of the dodo bird the pair of on-again
off-again romantic crime fighters turned spies are back and they brought one of
those fire-y red heads that fanboys get such a jonesin’ for, the Black Widow. I
am proud to say, in my defense, that I now own all six issues of “H&M” and the
final three issues of “Black Widow”, and I’m a big fan!
When I first heard about the “Widowmaker” crossover it was planned to span the
two titles, and since it featured my favorite guilty pleasure character, Ronin,
I was going to pick it up one way or another. Then it became a stand-alone
miniseries, and then the two books whose bandwagons I’d only recently jumped
upon, they were both gone with the wind. I’m hoping that this series does what
it needs to for the right amount of people so that either of these two books,
but preferably both, is able to come back.
The action in “Widowmaker” starts from the very first page, as Ronin and his/her
masked cronies take apart a Russian Secret Service sect charged with protecting
the Prime Minister, or whatever. The meat of the plot comes from Hawkeye and
Mockingbird attempting to track down whomever is responsible for putting Bobbi
Morse’s name on a ‘burn list’, a list of spies meant for termination. Natasha
Romanov, also known as The Black Widow, is also in the peculiar position of
finding her name on the same ‘burn list’, and as such is taking the recovery of
this information very seriously. All three find themselves under fire by the
Supreme Soviets, which I guess is sorta like the Winter Guard but MORE Russian.
The Supreme Soviets are there to arrest the man responsible for the
assassination of their Prime Minister, and since Clint Barton was the last known
man to wear the guise of Ronin, well, he’s in it pretty deep. It was a neat
twist that I should have, but didn’t see coming. I’m really curious as to the
identity of this new Ronin, and I’m hoping it’s NOT the Blonde Black Widow,
whatshername…but I might have to call it right now. I’m hoping I’m wrong, but
there were more than a few hints dropped along the way if you pay attention.
David Lopez won me over with his work on “Hawkeye & Mockingbird”, really
captivating me with dynamic characters and his natural ability to tell the story
with his images. I remember when Marvel did a month of ‘Nuff Said’ silent issues, and no nonsense, this guy would be PERFECT for something like
that. The ink work by Alvaro Lopez and the colors by Nathan Fairbairn bring the
project together in a neat little package that just begs to be more popular than
it is. That’s okay, I’m sure this is just a first stop on what will be a
ridiculously long career for these guys, at least I hope so! |
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LADY DEATH #0 |
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Writers:
Brian Pulido and Mike Wolfer Artist:
Marcello Mueller |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Avatar
Comics
Shipped On:
120210
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
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AVATAR/BOUNDLESS' SYNOPSIS:
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Lady Death is back in an all-new, on-going monthly
series! The most popular femme fatale in comics returns with a vicious new tale
that delivers for both new and old readers! Lady Death is no more, stripped of
her supernatural abilities, memories and soul, banished from the Nether Realm
and left for dead, utterly defeated and powerless. In her place, Hope's greatest
foe has stolen her kingdom, her legacy and even her face, transforming the Realm
into a nightmare world and rules it with an unparalleled, sadistic pleasure. But
this is only the beginning! The most sprawling epic in Lady Death's history
begins as Illadra, a simple thief in Medieval Spain, learns that her unnatural
skills are tied to another life she has glimpsed in her darkest nightmares, one
where she is Lady Death. Her world is about to be turned upside down when a
demonic emissary and a battalion of zombie warriors thrusts her down a bloody
path of self-discovery, and a quest to recover the true self that was ripped
from her by the villainous Death Queen! Co-written by Mike (Gravel, Wolfskin)
Wolfer and original creator Brian Pulido, this series promises to be the most
powerful Lady Death tale ever! Amazing new talent Marcelo Mueller provides the
luscious art and Digikore brings the dramatic colors wrapped in a stunning new
cover by Garrie (Supergod) Gastonny! Also available with a Wraparound cover by
Juan Jose Ryp and a special Art Deco Retailer Order Incentive by painter Michael
Dipascale! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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The problem with preview issues, more commonly known
as ‘Zero Issues’, is they MUST introduce NEW readers to a product and hook them,
while at the same time marketing the book to its long-time fans, all while
successfully selling at a rate that keeps it viable to continue publishing.
Sounds like a lot to juggle, right? Therefore it’s quite easy to see why “Lady
Death” #0 is such a lame duck contender for ‘Next Hit Series’, if such a
universal classification ever really existed.
Lady Death pulls a Wonder Woman. If you’re familiar at all with DC’s Amazon
Princess’s current status quo then you’re well informed as far as my comparison
is concerned. If you haven’t caught up with Wonder Woman over the last six or
seven months, allow me to explain. Wonder Woman (insert Lady Death here) wakes
up and her world is different somehow, but she can’t really tell. Wonder Woman
is then visited by some weird blind lady (insert ‘Creepy Demon Guy’ here) and
informed of her metaphysical dilemma. Lady Death, I mean, Wonder Woman, then
sets about righting her Universe’s wrong…or whatever.
In this case, Lady Death is some sort of Medieval warrior, or vagabond, or
something, but anyway she’s living with a roving pack of angry people when she
comes across some sort of weird demon dude. He spouts some cryptic gibberish,
brandishes about some magic mirror, then dies by the hands of some undead
knights or some such nonsense. Everything happens with little rhyme or reason,
the rhythm of the story is all over the place, and by the end of the issue I
couldn’t imagine anyone wants to come back for a second helping of that crap.
The art is tolerable, in a barely-tolerable sort of way. It’s color over
un-inked pencils, which I hate for the most part, and in truth it does NOTHING
for this book whatsoever. The artist’s ability to pace the story is rather
herky-jerky; the pages flow like the bowels of a man who spent an entire day
eating nothing but cheese. There’s a constipated feel to the story telling.
Mueller does manage emotive characters, and I imagine in a few years, with
growth, he might be a formidable talent; maybe this was rushed, I don’t know,
but I don’t see anything that grabbed and held my attention. Pass! |
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HEROES FOR HIRE #1 |
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Writers:
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning Artist:
Brad Walker |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel
Comics
Shipped On:
120210
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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In the aftermath of Shadowland, Marvel's greatest
street heroes - Punisher, Moon Knight, Shroud, Elektra, Paladin, Silver Sable,
Ghost Rider, Iron Fist, Falcon, Misty Knight and more - leap into one all-new
series! Who has brought these dangerous loners into one fighting force? How is
this network different from all other teams? Who is their first target, and what
mysteries wait for them? Discover the answers and enter the action on Marvel's
mean streets. |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Apart from the somewhat-deceptive cover and the odd
turn at the end, D-n-A’s first issue of the new “Heroes for Hire” series was
really, really enjoyable. Sure the nod to “The Warriors” is a bit overt and at
first caught me as a hokey device, but by book’s end there’s a pretty legitimate
reasoning behind its use, so all’s forgiven. I thought that there was a great
combination of style AND substance, providing a perfect blend of action and
suspense. While I would have liked a bit more exposition in terms of what in the
hell is ACTUALLY going on, I’m sure we’ll come to that bit a little down the
line.
The idea of team that isn’t actually a team but rather a network of otherwise
solo crime-fighters isn’t an entirely new idea, but here we’re given an excuse
to witness the exploits of everyone’s favorite B-listers as they set about
unraveling such and such drug conspiracies, murder plots, and kidnapping rings.
There’s no Ghost Rider or Punisher, as the cover would have you believe, but
there is a great many appearances from the likes of Moon Knight, Elektra,
Falcon, Black Widow, Paladin, Misty Knight, and someone else whom I won’t reveal
for the sake of spoiling just how confused it might leave you.
In the aftermath of “Shadowland”, otherwise known as The Battle for the Soul of
New York, there is a void left on the streets from the disappearance of
Daredevil; as such, Misty Knight establishes herself as a sort of ‘Mission
Control’, calling upon her friends and acquaintances in order to better help her
‘clean up the streets.’ By the story’s end, however, everything is turned on its
ear by an unexpected arrival/revelation which left me with a great many
questions, but most of them sound like: “Huh?”
Brad Walker is a great asset to this title. His rendering of the fast-paced,
high-intensity action left me turning the pages at a furious clip. I like some
of his characters more than others, but all in all it was one of the most solid
efforts I’ve seen in one of the ‘street-level’ Marvel titles in a long, long
time. He may have cut his teeth in the cosmic corner of the MU, but he’s likely
to find his footing and really establish his name with this title here. That is,
if the title ends up catching on, selling, and maintaining the high level of
expectation that people have come to expect from this creative team. We’ll see… |
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BATMAN ORPHANS #1 (OF 2) |
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Writer:
Eddie Berganza Artist:
Carlo Barberi |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher: DC
Comics
Shipped On:
120210
|
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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Robin's been found dead! And that's not an easy
thing to face - especially when you're Tim Drake! In this pre-RED ROBIN tale,
Tim and Batman must solve the murder of an impostor Robin and follow the trail
of someone putting together a new team of teenaged sidekicks made up of kids
who've been promised that they'll become the new Robin...IF they survive! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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This “untold tale” would probably have been better
off on the shelf in the vault or wherever it was discovered, because it sure
isn’t good enough to stand on its own amongst the story-driven Batman action
that’s been happening all around us these days. Written by Eddie Berganza, whom,
if I remember correctly, is actually some sort of editor over there at DC, this
story, which much have been written more than four or five years ago, is just
all sorts of out-of-whack with relation to where the characters are at the
current time.
Let’s even put aside the really stupid and drawn out Sam Jackson gag, which, did
I mention, is really stupid and drawn out? It’s just a sign of the times, I
mean, that guy was HUGE four, five…maybe six years ago? All I’m saying is if I
ever have to read a “Changing Lanes” joke in a comic published after 2003, I’m
just gonna quit. Whose idea was it to release this fluff piece this late in the
game? We’re experiencing what may be one of the most defining runs in Dark
Knight history, with the banner encompassing more than a dozen titles, and
editorial feels the need to toss a shovel of $#!t on top, perhaps to sweeten the
deal? I don’t get it.
Robin’s dead. But it’s not REALLY Robin; it’s just some jerk kid in a Robin
costume who’s been shot to death by some rough looking dude armed with a bow and
arrows. Long story short, there’s some sort of imposter Batman (because there’s
ALWAYS some sort of imposter Batman) and he’s assembling himself an army of
misfit children. All the kids come from some sort of traumatic background,
making them the perfect candidates for manipulation. It’s unclear by the end of
this giant first-issue as to exactly who is masquerading as the Dark Knight, but
there are allusions to Scarecrow…so that’s a safe bet.
Carlo Barberi’s art isn’t my cup of tea. It’s awfully similar to that of
Humberto Ramos whose work is very hit or miss with me; as such I’m not feeling
it. What redeems this title in the visual department however is the color work
by Chuck Pires. Rich saturation of color really delivers a cinematic quality to
this otherwise dismal title, and if there’s anything I can get behind it’s
another Batman cartoon (even if it’s not a cartoon at all). I would love to see
Chuck Pires get some more work on some other titles that could really use a shot
in the arm; his ability to breathe even a little life into this expired product
is refreshing. |
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WOLVERINE BEST THERE IS #1 |
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Writer:
Eddie Berganza Artist:
Carlo Barberi |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel
Comics
Shipped On:
120210
|
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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"Contagion, Part One: Impulsion & Whim," PART 1 OF
6, When Wolverine faces a problem of the villainous kind there's a good chance
that he'll use his Adamantium claws to whip up a lethal solution to it. What
happens, though, when he faces an opponent who becomes a much bigger problem if
he's killed? Enter: Contagion, a bold new addition to Wolverine's rogue's
gallery. But first, Logan must contend with Contagion's defenders, the aptly
named crew known as the Unkillables. |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Wolverine in a tuxedo t-shirt, cutting women’s hair
in the middle of a nightclub, only to stop everything so he can dance his heart
out to some outrageous pop song or another; this is what I got when I opened
this book, this is what made me want to gouge my eyes out with adamantium claws.
I can’t believe what passes for content at the “House of Ideas” these days. For
every seemingly great take on a character, especially one as thinly spread as
Wolverine, there appear to be a MILLION incorrect paths to follow; Charlie
Huston is in desperate need of a clue, and if anyone is more than willing to
help him out, it’s me!
Hey, guy, your story appears to be two things: extremely derivative AND kinda
condescending. It’s one thing to step onto a book and misinterpret the voice of
the character, that happens ALL THE TIME in comics, depending on who you ask,
but it’s another thing entirely to start a brand-new, four-dollar comic in which
you have NO IDEA what you’re writing about. What starts out as something I’ve
seen a million times before (and done better in each previous attempt) quickly
descended into something I hope to never see again. It was a caricature of the
Ol’ Canucklehead, it was some writer’s crappy idea of a joke, it was literally
the worst Wolverine story I’ve ever read.
Juan Ryp is a guy who’s been busting his chops with some of the prettiest
looking comics with some of the most detail oriented line work I’ve seen in a
long, long time. His style is best described as ‘manic’ or ‘high-energy’,
there’s so much to look at, so much texture, detail, environment packed into
every panel. It’s like a comic book version of “Where’s Waldo” except there’s no
striped-shirt clad nerd who needs to be found. Unfortunately, as great as Ryp’s
work really is, he’s being cut off at the knees with this title. He needs
something that will play to his strengths while at the same time testing his
ability to bring something NEW and MEANINGFUL to the history of the character,
and this is NOT IT. |
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All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2010 by their respective
owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.
Reviews © 2010 Alternate Reality, Inc.
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"The opinions expressed in the reviews below are not necessarily those of Alternate Reality, Inc. Hey, I don't agree with all of them either!"
